gf.me/u/wvkub7 I would like to take this opportunity to thank and wish a happy new year to all of those who helped make the publication of Haggadat Hapesah possible and those who have already purchased copies. I am still trying to raise funds toward the much-requested English edition, but I have run into a snag. … Continue reading
Update (Elul 5780): The following is a proposed, piyut-less version of the service. Although it may be used any year, even when there is no pandemic, I believe that it is imperative that it be used by all this year. I myself would prefer an expanded version in most years. תפילות ראש השנה לפי שורת … Continue reading
Some thoughts about the annual pilgrimage: 1. I found the arguments between Rabbi Zuriel and Rabbi Brand here fascinating, especially because I got to hear both of these Rabbis’ positions in person this very month. 2. I am surprisingly ambivalent about the issue. The arguments against going to Uman are strong and well-grounded, but there … Continue reading
(Updated and expanded during Elul 5780) M’gilla 31b: It has been taught: R. Simeon b. Eleazar says: Ezra enacted for Israel that they should read the curses in Leviticus before Pentecost and those in Deuteronomy before New Year. What is the reason? — Abbayei – or maybe Resh Lakish – said: So that the year … Continue reading
I mostly agree with the ideas expressed in this video. I believe that they fit very well with what Moses describes in the first few chapters of Deuteronomy, and also fit with a the Talmudic-halachic viewpoint about which I have written in the past. The Jewish people are as entitled to the land of Israel … Continue reading
Recently, I was involved in a strange case of applied halacha. Lay acquaintances had found a large sum of cash, and wanted to know from me how they should proceed according to halacha. I explained to them that such finds often have simanim, indicia, and that it was their responsibility to make a public announcement … Continue reading
כוונתי בזה להגן על המנהג שנהגנו בניו יורק לומר סליחות לכתחילה גם בלילה לפני חצות וגם בבוקר אחרי הנץ החמה. מעיקר הדין, משום שחז׳׳ל לא תקנו את הסליחות ואכן אינן באות במקום שום עבודה במקדש, אין הלכות לגבי זמנן כמו שמצינו אצל התפילות שקבעו חז׳׳ל. מאז תקופת הגאונים, המנהג (מנהגא בעלמא) היה לקום באשמורת (לפני … Continue reading
This riveting article from the latest issue of the Hakira Journal reminded me of the Mishna, Keilim 17:13-14, which brings a system for remembering which materials, objects, and creatures are susceptible to ritual contamination. כל שבים, טהור–חוץ מכלב המים, מפני שהוא בורח ליבשה, דברי רבי עקיבה. העושה כלים מן הגדל שבים, וחיבר ֿלהם מן הגדל … Continue reading
